Editorial - Scripted events are killing the gaming experience

DSOGaming writes: "Oh boy, here we go again with the scripted events. I’m pretty sure you’ve heard it before that those dreadful scripted events, which are included in most modern-day titles, are killing the whole gaming experience. There is a lot of argue about it, and to be honest, both sides are right. On one hand, scripted events give a cinematic feel, a more intense – albeit ‘fake’ – experience that could not be achieved with any other way. On the other hand, however, these same scripted events are hurting the dynamic nature of the games. Games are transforming into movies, meaning that the players are simply attending instead of actually playing them."

yeah the magic in incharted is most of the time you dont see'em coming..while in most games theres like a different camera angle and takes like 2 seconds for it to happen.. by then you already know whats coming..

Though Uncharted 2 still suffered from the "all movement is halted while the event occurs", and it was so reliant on those any subsequent playthrough felt like rewatching a very basic movie- just the same thing over and over, with no variation. The article nailed it in the last line- "And while you are at it, give us some games instead of those interactive movies!".

I'm not sure that what that video depicts is properly called a scripted event. That's called a bug, unless the developers intended you to always die and restart at that spot in that way. A scripted event always occurs the same way no matter what you do, and occurs in the way the developers intended.

Exactly. In UC2 the events blended seamlessly with the gameplay. The sequence with the building falling forced you jump at the right moment before you fell and died and flowed right into the next level. Unlike other games whose scripted events boil down too 'stand on this spot to get blown up and almost die' or 'ride in this tank until we find an excuse to put you back on foot' or 'move this cupboard to go through the secret entrance'. In UC2 if you slacked off in any of the scripted events, you would die. If you didn't dodge the snow creature he would beat you senseless. If you didn't jump the gap when the building fell, you plummeted to your doom. If you didn't outrun the jeep, you get run down. Some scripted events are clumsily and poorly done. Those need to go.

It is a failed scripted event, as you are supposed to be grabbed buy that enemy no matter what, not die on the spot. A failed scripted event can be attributed to a bug... either way it was poorly executed.

This game is riddled with bugs. There were a few times when I ran into an area through a door, but then I couldn't get out through the same door. In one instance, I got stuck!

Yeah I know the game is riddled with bugs. We were playing it at work today (instead of working lol) and it managed to crash twice within half an hour, AND we spent 5 minutes trying to shoot a sniper who can kill you, after which realizing he is only mortal once you complete the scripted event of picking up a rocket launcher.

There is a line between using scripted events and overusing them. Most games have crossed it and rely entirely on scripted events. CoD, BF3 and Homefront are some of those (and there are even more, not those three)

what were the scripted events in half life 2 ? Not saying your wrong or anything, I have not played it since orange box released, but to my memory I don't remeber any... unless your thinking of the bits were you are in the lab talking with the npc's ?

No. Scripted events are awesome...it's one of the best ways to give games those jaw dropping moments that don't happen during regular gameplay.

The only poorly scripted events in BF3 are the one's where if you don't do exactly what you're supposed to you magically die. It'd be fine if it said "MISSION FAILED: You were spotted" But noooo..You just drop dead as if you had a heart attack.

"it's one of the best ways to give games those jaw dropping moments that don't happen during regular gameplay."

your idea of a scripted event is not the same as the writer's idea.

A scripted event that takes control away from the player sucks. Scripted events in many games are becoming like cutscenes.

A scripted event that seems to occur naturally but was actually triggered by the player reaching a certain point is fine, but only when the player still has control of the character and can react however he wants to the situation.

Random scripted events might even be better. Or if the developers took the time to make the AI even more creatively responsive to the player's presence, that would eliminate the need to have cutscene-type scripted events.

I think it depends on the person, and obviously, the type of game you are trying to make. In most games, I couldn't care less about how immersed I am. I just like to play well designed, fun games. But that isn't always the case, so like I said, it all depends.

"Scripted events are killing the gaming experience" I don't agree with this statement.

I do however agree, like many of you have said, that poorly scripted events have a negative effect and can drastically take away from the feeling of emersion. However gamers are split on such games as MGS4, that has very long and seemingly drawn out cutsceenes when it comes to gamer opinion. Some people just cant stand the wait and want to get right back in the game, while others feel that the movie like cinematics actually add to the story, helping fill in the plot and create explanations or scenarios that could not be done without the use of scripted events.

I don't think we should do away with scripted events all together, but devs need to be aware of when to use them and when not to, while gamers need to be aware that sometimes scripted events are necessary and even though some of you may feel they can sometimes take away the feeling of emersion, while this can be true certain events are just not possible or feel more thought out and polished when they are done in a cinematic cutsceen.

Every campaign is scripted. I don't see the point of this assumption. the only game trying to break out of it is Skyrim with the radiant AI system. That's pretty much the only game that isn't scripted (well it still is anyway)

Like the radiant AI that Bethesda promised in Oblivion? Generally speaking, I am a bit suspicious about Bethesda's statements. Don't forget that they were claiming that they are using a brand new engine in Skyrim when in fact its an evolution of Gamebryo

Scripted event are pretty good, but it doesn't add anything to replay value. Once u see it, that is it. It is like the first time seeing summoning of Shieva in FF7, but then after like 2 times, im ready to skip it. The sole reason why all of these linear scripted games required some sort of MP gameplay to extend it lives.

Open game wise is more interesting, like RDR for example, because it always changes. U see something different/ changes everytime. Hence, u don't see game like Oblivion, Skyrim, RDR or like games require much of multiplayer to have high replay value.